The Impact of the Humanitarian Nationalism on the Perception of Refugees in Canada

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 caused a refugee crisis. Canada responded by implementing the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program, to swiftly relocate a large number of Ukrainian refugees from Europe. The CUAET program provided Ukrainians with exceptional generosity, which contrasts with the support typically offered to other refugee groups. CUAET's adoption has gained widespread attention as Former Minister of Immigration Sean Frazer claimed it would establish a precedent for addressing future refugee challenges. Currently, there is a lack of understanding regarding the CUAET program's adaptability to other refugee groups. The CUAET program was extended to Ukrainians due to a strong sense of “Humanitarian Nationalism” in Canada (Hyndman, 2023). Humanitarian nationalism is the national commitment to supporting refugees, emphasizing collective responsibility for assisting them. This phenomenon was responsible for Canada’s outpouring of support for Ukrainians. However, not all refugees benefit from this sentiment, as government and public support are not extended to all refugees in the same ways. Drawing on Hyndman's concept, this research aims to explore the specific circumstances surrounding Ukrainian refugees that led to the creation of the CUAET program and assess the potential applicability of extending Canada's CUAET program to other refugee groups. This can be achieved through an analysis of Syrian and Ukrainian resettlements to Canada within the framework of “Humanitarian Nationalism.”